Waste disposal apparatus

ABSTRACT

In waste disposal apparatus the top of the chute leading to the grinder is provided with a hinged cover which carries a water outlet directed onto the apex of a conical sealing member fitted to the cover and adapted to seal with the mouth of the chute, the sealing member having slots set in from its periphery.

United States Patent 9 Church 1' Sept. 5, 1972 54] WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Alan Howard Church, Sewrys Croft, UNITED STATES PATENTS a whlttenng 2,615,636 10/1952 Powers ..241/36 g 2,624,515 1/1953 Brown et al. ..24l/38 [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 2,761,626 9/1956 Gustaveson ..24l/46 B 3,210,014 10/1965 Nauman et al'. ..'....24l/36 X [211 PP 97,535 3,291,399 12/1966 Shepherd ..241/36 I Primary Examiner- Granville Y. Custer, Jr.

[30] Fomgn Apphcamn Pnonty Data Attorney-Scrivener, Parker, Scrivener & Clarke Dec. 23, 1969 Great Britain ..62,5 10/69 [57] ABSIRA CT 52 US. Cl. ..241 36, 241/38, 241/46 B In waste disposal apparatus the top f the chute lead- [51] Int. Cl ..B02c ing to the grinder is provided a hinged cover Field of Search 46 which carries a water outlet directed onto the apexof a conical sealing member fitted to the cover and adapted to seal with the mouth of the chute, the sealing member having slots set in from its periphery.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEP Elan 3,688,993

SHEET 1 BF 4 PATENTED E 5 9 sum 3 [IF 4 WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION This invention relates to waste disposal apparatus for the destruction of sanitary towels, dressings, and other like fibrous waste material.

Such apparatus is of the kind which comprises a grinder working in a grinding chamber, a chute leading into and a drain leading out of the grinding chamber and a cover for the chute which, on closing, actuates the grinder and a supply of wash water.

According to the invention, in waste disposal apparatus of the kind set forth the chute cover is provided with a water outlet spaced from but directed onto the central portion of a sealing member fitted to the cover and adapted to seal with the mouth of the chute, the sealing member having slots set in from its periphery whereby, in use, water is able to flow over the central portion of the, sealing member, through the slots and down the sides of the chute. The central portion of the sealing member may be conical with its apex directed towards the water outlet.

The advantages of this arrangement are that the flow of water is broken between the water outlet and the sealing member, so that it is not possible for water to syphon back into the mains supply. Also, the stream of water from the outlet is distributed evenly around the chute without splashing and'washes the chute clean from its highest point.

Two embodiments of the invention are described as examples and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic'front view of a waste disposal apparatus for sanitary towels with the top of the chute and a chute cover shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chute cover;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a sealing member for the chute cover;

' FIG. 4 is a section on the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a modified form of chute cover; and

FIG. 6 is a partial side viewof the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the chute cover in the open position.

In the apparatus of FIG. 1, a chute l of corrosion resistant aluminum alloy is mounted vertically over a grinding chamber 2, the chute 1 being wider at the bottom than at the top to prevent any towels lodging in it before reaching the grinding chamber 2. The walls of the grinding chamber 2 are provided with stationary teeth (not shown) which comminute material thrown and ground against them by a rotating impeller (not shown) driven by an electric motor 3 housed beneath the grinding chamber 2. A waste pipe 4 is connected to a drain point 5 in the grinding chamber 2.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, a cover 6 for the chute 1 has a hollow cylindrical base 7 from which two spaced parallel lugs 8 project outwardly to form hinge arms. A lever 9 extends at right angles from one of the hinge arms 8 for operating an electric switch 10. The front 11 of the cover 6, i.e. that portion diametrically opposite the hinge arms 8, and the side 12 remote from the switch lever 9 are extended upwardly from the base 7, the front 11 following a vertical radius still retaining the horizontal radius of the base 7. The handle 13 projects from the front 11 of the cover 6. A nozzle 14 on the end of a flexible water hose 15 is fitted through and secured to an apertured boss 16 in the extended side 12 of the cover 6 and is arranged to direct a flow of water at the center of the cover base 7. The flexibility of the hose 15 allows the nozzle to move with the cover.

A sealing member 17, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, has an outwardly projecting peripheral lip 18 which is fitted under the cover base 7 and has a conical central portion 19, the apex of which projects upwardly towards the nozzle 14 but is spaced at least one-half inch from the nozzle. Slots 20 are formed in the sealing member 17 in the bottom of a trough formed between the conical central portion 19 and an upstandingflange 21, the outer surface of which mates with the inner surface of the cover base 7. The sealing member 17 can be moulded from Neoprene and is sprung into place in the cover base 7. Adhesive may be used to hold the sealing member permanently in place. When the cover 6 is closed it forms a seal between the cover 6 and the top of the chute 1. In use .water from the nozzle 14 flows over the central portion 19 of the sealing member through the slots 20 and down the sides of the chute, the inner surfaces of the flange 21 and the cover base deflecting any splashed water to the slots 20.

As shown in FIG. 1 the chute l, grinding chamber 2, motor 3 are supported in a housing 22 which is' adapted to be mounted on a wall. The housing can be sound proofed to reduce noise. Detachably secured to the housing 22 is a top 23 which encloses the chute cover 6 and the electrical controls 24 for the apparatus, the controls 24 being separated from the chute cover 6 by a panel 25. An aperture 28 in the top 23 allows access to the chute cover as shown in FIG. 6.

The controls 24 include a timer arranged so that when the cover 6 is closed and the switch 10 is operated thus energizing the electrical circuit to the grinder motor 3 and a solenoid valve 26 in the water supply,.the motors 3 and the valve 26 both operate for a predetermined period; for example 90 seconds will allow adequate time for cleaning since the destruction time of a sanitary towel is about 20 seconds. The timer is re-set each time the cover 6 is opened so that if a cycle is interrupted a new cycle will start when the cover 6 is closed again. The solenoid valve 26 incorporates a strainer and a device to control the throughput of water to a standard rate regardless of input pressure. As a safety precaution the grinder cover 6 and housing top 23. In FIG. 5 the same sealing member 17 is fitted. As in the first embodiment of the apparatus, opening and closing the chute cover 30 operates switch 10, though switch 10 and the controls 24 are located in positions more suitable for the modified apparatus.

It will be appreciated that either form of the apparatus can be housed in a free standing cabinet. Furthermore a chute cover according to the invention can be used in forms of waste disposal apparatus other than those described in detail above.

I claim:

1. Waste disposal apparatus comprising a grinder which, on closing of the chute cover, are adapted to actuate the grinder and a supply of wash water from the water outlet whereby, in use, water can flow-over the central portion of the sealing member, through the slots and down the sides of the chute.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the central portion of the sealing member is conical with its apex directed towards the water outlet.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the sealing member has an outwardly projecting peripheral lip which is fitted under the rim of a base portion of the chute cover, the lip being adapted to seal around the mouth of the chute.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the lip projects outwardly from a flange the outer surface of which engages the inner surface of the base portion ofthe chute and the slots inthe sealing member are located in a trough formed between said flange and the central portron.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the water outlet is a nozzle secured to the chute cover and joined to a flexible hose adapted to be connected to the water v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent no. 3,688,993 se temher i, i912 Inventor(s) Alan Howard Church It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent .'and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below;

On the cover sheet, insert 4-59 [73] Assignee Anda Limited, Sussex, England, a Corporation of Great Britain Signed and sealed this 20th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attes t EDWARD M FLETCHER JR ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents 1 FORM PC4050 (10459) USCOMM-DC scam-ps9 .5. GQVERNMEN'I PRINTlNG OFFICE? 969 0-365'33,

i I i 

1. Waste disposal apparatus comprising a grinder located in a grinding chamber, a chute leading into the grinding chamber, a cover for the chute, a sealing member fitted to tHe cover and adapted to seal around the mouth of the chute and having a central portion extending across the mouth of the chute and slots set in from its periphery, a water outlet carried by the cover, the outlet being spaced from but directed onto the central portion of the sealing member and control means which, on closing of the chute cover, are adapted to actuate the grinder and a supply of wash water from the water outlet whereby, in use, water can flow over the central portion of the sealing member, through the slots and down the sides of the chute.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the central portion of the sealing member is conical with its apex directed towards the water outlet.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the sealing member has an outwardly projecting peripheral lip which is fitted under the rim of a base portion of the chute cover, the lip being adapted to seal around the mouth of the chute.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the lip projects outwardly from a flange the outer surface of which engages the inner surface of the base portion of the chute and the slots in the sealing member are located in a trough formed between said flange and the central portion.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the water outlet is a nozzle secured to the chute cover and joined to a flexible hose adapted to be connected to the water supply.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the nozzle extends through the chute cover which is hinged adjacent the mouth of the chute.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the nozzle and flexible hose are contained within the chute cover which is hinged adjacent to the mouth of the chute. 